The UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme has published its annual report, outlining the current state of electric HGV adoption in the UK. Backed by more than £200 million in funding and run in partnership with Innovate UK, the programme aims to play a key role in encouraging more operators to make the switch.
Electric HGVs are proving themselves in UK operations, but barriers remain
Three projects within the ZEHID scheme, Electric Freightway, eFreight 2030 and ZENFreight, are now moving into live commercial operation, with trucks from six manufacturers running across 35 operators. A fourth project called HyHAUL, which focused on hydrogen-powered HGVs, was axed last year – leaving the ZEHID program focusing on battery-electric trucks.
The latest data from the new ZEHID report shows encouraging signs, with 172 trucks funded under the programme already sharing telematics. These show a combined distance covered so far of 3.6 million kilometres to carry a combined cargo weight of 550,000 tonnes, helping reduce total CO2 emissions by 4,000 tonnes compared to the same routes being carried out on diesel trucks.
Despite the figures and positive feedback from many firms operating eHGVs, the UK still has some ground to make up compared to its European neighbours – countries such as Germany currently have a higher market share for eHGVs, though the UK is still moving in the right direction.
According to the report, charging infrastructure has been the key bottleneck. Grid connection times and costs vary significantly between sites, with one eFreight 2030 site quoted a five-year connection time. Infrastructure is also shaping how the trucks are used. eHGVs under the scheme are currently averaging around 1,350 kilometres per week, compared with around 2,600 kilometres for diesel trucks, although some have managed up to 800 kilometres in a single day, helped along with new on-the-road truck charging sites from firms such as Milence.
Initial cost remains another major hurdle to uptake though, with the funded trucks within the programme costing on average 2.7x more than the equivalent diesel truck, even though long-term costs of ownership can work out cheaper with the correct utilisation in place.
The report sums up that wider adoption will depend on easing grid reinforcement, land negotiation and planning barriers, alongside continued financial support such as the UK Government’s recent £1 billion extension for the Zero Emission Truck Grant and Depot Charging Scheme. You can read the full report, here:
https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/perspectives/from-ambition-to-evidence-zehid-annual-report/
